Sugarelly facts for kids

Sugarelly, also known as Liquorice water, is a traditional British soft drink. It was very popular in the early to mid-1900s. This drink is made using liquorice, which gives it a unique flavor.

Sugarelly was not usually bought in shops. Instead, people made it at home. They would put pieces of liquorice into water and let them sit for a while. This simple way of making a drink was well-known across Britain.

What is Sugarelly?

Sugarelly is a sweet drink with a distinct taste of liquorice. It was a common homemade treat for children. Imagine a drink that tastes a bit like liquorice sweets, but in liquid form!

How Was Sugarelly Made?

Making sugarelly was quite simple. People would use "chemist's liquorice." This was a hard, black stick of liquorice.

• First, the liquorice stick was cut into smaller pieces.
• Next, these pieces were put into a bottle of cold water.
• The bottle was then left in a cool, dark place. It would stay there for about a week.

During this time, the liquorice would slowly mix with the water. This process is called "infusing." The water would take on the flavor and color of the liquorice.

Enjoying Your Homemade Sugarelly

Once the liquorice water was ready, it was time to enjoy it! People would often shake the bottle. This would create a brown foam at the top. They would then drink the liquorice water, sometimes even sucking the foam from the bottle's neck. It was a fun and tasty way to enjoy a homemade drink.

Sugarelly in Stories

Sugarelly was so popular that it appeared in many famous books and cartoons. This shows how much a part of British life it was.

• In Richmal Crompton's "William" books, sugarelly is mentioned often. William is a mischievous boy who loves adventures.
• Pip, a character in Charles Dickens' famous novel Great Expectations, also makes sugarelly in his room.
• The Scottish cartoon "Oor Wullie" also talks about this special drink.

These mentions show that sugarelly was a well-loved part of childhood for many years.

Sugarelly Legends

Some people were especially good at making sugarelly. Evelyn and Mary McNeil, from Nairn in Scotland, were known as amazing sugarelly makers. They made their wonderful drinks as children during wartime Britain. Their sugarelly became so famous that it was talked about as a legend!